Dehumidifier for vending machines



Nov. 21, 1950 P. SOMMER 2,531,084

DEHUMIDIFIER FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1950 INVENTOR. PHIUP L. SQMMER,

A T TOR/V5 Y.

Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

DEHUMIDIFIER FOR VENDING MACHINES Philip L. Summer, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Application March 28, 1950, Serial No. 152,453

.1 Claim. (Cl. 31231.1)

This invention relates to a dehumidifier i vending machines and especially for vending machines that contain for delivery by coin oper atecl mechanism, nuts or other highly: moisture absorbent edible products.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device adapted to be supported within the upper portion of the usual and well known cylindrical display containers in a manner free from contact with the nuts or other food products and which will be held against displacement by the conventional locking cap employed by the machine.

A further object of the invention resides ina very simple and novel device that is readily adaptable to various makes of vending machines. require no separate mounting means, contains a highly moisture absorbent material therein, has visual sight means for determining the condition of the moisture absorption material, is cheap to manufacture, strong, durable and highly efficient m use.

Other distinct advantages of the invention will be readily apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred example of the invention and wherein like characters of reference denote like parts throughout.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vending machine, showing the invention in use,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the machine, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the invention in elevation,

Figure 3 is an edge View of the device with the associated Vending machine in dotted lines,

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the device and,

Figure 5 is a central vertical section of the device, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring specifically to the drawings, th numeral 5 designates a vending machine of conventional construction, having a cylindrical glass container 6 adapted to support therein, nuts or other highly moisture absorbent food products. The container 6 is open at its top and norm-ally closed by a flanged cover I, having any usual and well known locking mechanism, not shown, that supports the cover in position against unauthorized removal, by a rod 8, the lower end of which is threaded or otherwise fixed within the machine.

The invention consists of a flat plate, preferably corners of the plate 9 are rounded on an arc corresponding to the arc of the upper end of the container 6- and having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the open end of the container. The marginal edges of plate 9' are adapted to be supported upon the upper end of the container, asshown in Figure 3. The plate 9 is provided with a central opening I U, concentric with the rounded corners, for a purpose to be d-' scribed. Welded or otherwise fixed upon the underside of the plate 9 and concentric thereto, is a generally semicircular hollow ring ll, forming with the plate 9, an annular chamber l2, adapted to support therein moisture absorbent material, such as the Well known silica gel. The ring II is provided with a plurality of rows of apertures I3 in its side walls, while the plate}! is provided with a plurality of apertures there through communicating with the interior of the chamber I2. The several openings are of a size to readily permit the passage of air therethrough, yet are not sufficiently large to permit the passage of the silica gel crystals. A sight opening M is provided in the plate 9, through the medium of which an operator may determine the moisture content of the silica gel crystals. The opening it is covered by a disc of transparent material I5, such as plastic or glass, held against displacement by a ring l6, threaded within the plate 9, as indicated.

In the use of the device, the cap I is removed from the container 6 for filling the container with nuts or similar food products. The rod 8 remains in fixed position. After the container has been supplied with the required quantity of nuts, the dehumidifier is positioned over the open end of the container, with the rounded corners of the plate 9 resting upon the upper marginal edge of the container, as in Figures 2 and 3, with the rod 8 projecting through the central opening I0. Since the cap I has its flange engaging over the marginal edge of the container and since the rounded corners of the plate 9 are formed on an arc corresponding to the diameter of the marginal edge of the container, the plate 9 is prevented from shifting from its support, regardless of the angle the vending machine may assume when trasferred from place to place. The cap obviously is locked in threaded engagement with the extended end of the rod 8, as is customary. Forming the plate 9 square, leaves an opening at each straight side betweenthe marginal edge of the container for the free circulation of air entirely around the device. The operator when filling the container may readily determine the condition of the crystals and whether or not a new dehumidifier is necessary.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that a very simple and highly effective device has been provided to absorb the moisture content of a vending machine and maintain its contents of nuts or the like fresh and crisp. Nuts or the like contained in a vending machine rapidly become rancid and it has been found, that with the device of this invention, the nuts are kept in perfect condition over a long period of time. The device is extremely cheap to manufacture and readily adapts itself to various forms of machines by simply varying the configuration of the plate 9.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the spirit or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A moisture absorbing device for nut vending machine having cylindrical transparent containers open at their top and closed by a removable locking cap, the structure that includes a square fiat plate having its corners rounded upon an are that corresponds to the diameter of the open end of the container for resting support on the container beneath the locking cap, the plate provided centrally thereof with an opening for the passage of a retaining rod carried by the vending machine, an annular tubular ring fixed upon the bottom of the plate concentric thereto, the walls of the ring provided with a plurality of rows of perforations communicating with the interior of the ring, the plate provided with a plurality of rows of perforations communicating with the interior of the ring, a sight opening formed in the plate and having communication with the interior of the ring, a transparent disc arranged over the sight opening, means for preventing displacement of the disc, the said ring adapted to house moisture absorbent crystals.

PHILIP L. SOMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the I file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,317,882 Boesel Apr. 27, 194

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 274,578 Great Britain July 25, 1927 

